The Volunteers came out swinging, scoring three touchdowns on their first three drives and punching the Georgia Bulldogs straight in the mouth. Neyland Stadium roared, Tenn’s tempo shredded coverages, and the Bulldogs found themselves trailing before they’d even broken a sweat. To their credit, UGA’s offense didn’t blink. They matched pace, hung within striking distance, and at least kept the game from unraveling before halftime. Still, for Kirby Smart, the reality checks from this one were impossible to ignore. Rival coach Josh Heupel has figured out how to throw haymakers early.

That’s where a familiar Bulldog voice chimed in. Former DE David Pollack didn’t sugarcoat what he saw from his alma mater. On his podcast, he highlighted both the promise and the glaring needs that still linger for Georgia’s offense. “And the best thing Georgia has going for them is they got four backs that can break tackles and make plays. So you keep everybody healthy, you keep everybody fresh. So you run harder. McRae, obviously the goal line guy in the end. I don’t like him reaching the ball in first or second down because you can fumble, you reach on fourth down. That’s the only time you do that. But Bobo dialed up some serious plays and this offense looks like an offense that can evolve, that can grow, that can get better. They’re gonna get the timing down with those shots. The back shoulders need to become a bigger priority… But solving the right tackle issue was big.”

Pollack’s breakdown matters because it speaks to Georgia’s identity crisis. This isn’t the plodding, defense-first team that suffocated opponents two years ago. It’s an offense-driven squad who are aiming for balance at running back. They have an OC in Mike Bobo who is willing to scheme verticals. Yet the team still has holes that can’t be hidden against elite competition. The Vols exposed those flaws. Georgia may have hung 44 on the road, but it felt more like a survival act than a statement.

After giving up 21 points in the opening quarter, the defense finally found its footing in the second. Gap fits tightened, coverages improved, and by halftime the Bulldogs were only down 21-17. That resilience showed up again when Georgia opened the second half with a thunderous 75-yard touchdown drive to grab its first lead. But every step forward was met with a counterpunch. Tennessee immediately struck back with another passing touchdown, retaking the advantage 35-30. When Gunner Stockton coughed up the football soon after, the Vols seized the short field and pushed it to 38-30, swinging momentum once more.

Georgia’s win showed competence instead of dominance

Georgia wouldn’t go quietly. Down eight late, Stockton uncorked a fourth-down prayer from the 28-yard line, and London Humphreys answered with an improbable grab that kept hope alive. The two-point conversion, executed with ice in the veins, tied it at 38 with just over two minutes left. That moment showed what Smart’s team still has: fight, toughness, and belief.

But Tennessee wasn’t rattled. They marched calmly downfield, bleeding clock and setting up what was supposed to be the game-winning kick. Had that kick gone in, everyone would be having a different conversation. David Pollack didn’t mince words when breaking down Tennessee’s start. He said, “Heupel scored an average of 14 points per game against Kirby. And they come out in the first quarter, man, and they’re just clicking on all cylinders, making big plays. And Heupel was ready, man. They were ready. Tennessee played good. They changed it up. They rushed the passer well, and Georgia just found a way to claw get back in it and put that drive together, and Gunner come up clutch in the end.” That’s the kind of snapshot Georgia fans needed to hear.

For all the grit the Bulldogs showed late, the opening flurry from Heupel was the jolt that defined the game’s tone. Georgia may have won out on this one. But  Heupel continues to scheme ways to light up the scoreboard against Smart’s defenses.